BELGRADE, Serbia — Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters marched again in Serbia on Monday, with riot police wielding shields guarding the Belgrade headquarters of President Aleksandar Vucic, who has threatened a major crackdown against those demonstrating against his populist rule.
The protest led by high school and university students marked 10 months since a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in the northern Serbian town of Novi Sad, killing 16 people. The disaster ignited a wave of public outrage, with state corruption and negligence cited as a major cause.
The protests Monday were held in the capital, Belgrade, and several other towns. In Novi Sad, baton-wielding police charged the peaceful protesters, slightly injuring some of them, according to local portals.
The protesters have been demanding early elections, transparent investigations and criminal prosecutions against those responsible for the canopy collapse, as well as free media.
“I think this fight will not be over soon,” said Anabela Arsenovic, a student. “There are months ahead of us fighting, but I hope it will [end] at some point and the elections will be held.”
More than 100 university and high school professors have been fired as authorities cracked down against their support of the students. They have been replaced by Vucic loyalists.
The large protest Monday was held as Vucic traveled to China for a gathering that includes Russian President Vladimir Putin and the leaders of China and India, along with the presidents of Belarus and Iran.
Vucic has branded the protesters as terrorists who want to unseat him from power.
Thousands of Vucic’s supporters marched in several Serbian towns on Sunday in a sign of deep divisions in the Balkan state.
Stojanovic writes for the Associated Press.